Convertible car.



PATENTED DEC. 11,- 1906.

E. R. ASH. CONVERTIBLE GAR.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.26. 1906.

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PATENTED DEC. 11, 1906. E. R. ASH.

CONVERTIBLE GAR.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG-25, 1906.

3 SHEETSSHBET 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11, 1906,

Application filed August 25,1906. Serial No. 332,037.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD R. Am, a citizen of the United States, residing in Wilmington, Delaware, have invented certain Improvements in Convertible Cars, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide a car of such construction that it may conveniently be changed from the closed to the open condition, it being further desired to so arrange the parts of the structure that the window-sections may be stored on the car in such a manner as to occupy but a relatively small space.

I further desire to so arrange the various parts of my improved car that it may be changed from the open to the closed condition, or vice versa, with great ease and in a short time, the various parts being so constructed as to be durable yet comparatively inexpensive.

These objects and other advantageous ends I attain as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of one end of a car constructed according to my invention, the window-sections being shown in their extended or closed position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation similar to that of Fig. 1, illustrating the car in its open condition and with the window-sections stored in their compartments. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1, one side of the car being illustrated with the window-sections in their extended positions so as to close the car and the other being shown with said sections in their stored condition. Fig. 4 is a front elevation, on an enlarged scale, of one of the window-sections forming part of my invention; and Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 5, Fig. 1, further illustrating my invention.

In the above drawings, A represents the floor or body of a car, the upper portion of the framework being illustrated at A and being of any desired construction. Ex tending between the top and bottom of the car, along each side of the same, are a series of vertical window-posts a, the distance between each of which is equal to the width of one of the window-sections. At each end of each side of the car is a compartment extending from the side of the central doorway B to the side of the car, and in width substantially equal to one-half the width of one of the window-sections. Each of these compartments is closed by a door 1), opening outwardly and hinged in a suitable manner to the corner of the car.

The longitudinally-extending upper side member a of the car body or frame is preferably cut away, as shown in Fig. 3, as is also the floor A of the car for the accommodation of the window-sections D, which when in their extended positions are movably held and locked in place by two longitudinallyextending bars C C. These are hinged at c to the longitudinal member a and at c to the outer edge of the floor A or to the framework thereof, the arrangement being such that when said pieces are turned on their hinges, the upper one downwardly and the lower one upwardly, two grooves or guideways are formed in which the window-sections D may be confined. Each of said window-sections D consists of two substantially similar parts D and D held together by an inside hinge, the sections each being of substantially the same width as the distance between the posts a. Successive window-sections are movably connected together by outside hinges (1, so that it is possible for the half-window sections to be folded one upon the other in parallel planes.

In order to make weatherproof the joints between adjacent half-window sections, I groove their adjacent edges, placing therein rubber or otherpacking (1, although it is conceivable that other means for making weather-tight joints may be employed, if desired. The parts of each window-section are so built that each of them contains half of a window-opening, which may be closed by a window-sash d although these latter may, if desired, be lowered into the hollow bottom portion of the window-section when it is desired to open said window. The adjacent members d of the two window-sashes of each window-section are similarly provided with packing-strips d or other means for making a weatherproof joint between them and are also preferably provided with dowel-pins (1, whereby the two sashes of one window-section are caused to move up or down together. Any desired form of spring-catch, such as (1 fastened to the under side of each of the sashes, may be provided for the purpose of maintaining said sashes in their elevated position, the catch to be so constructed as to spring out and engage the edge of the sash-opening in the window-section.

IIO

I preferably divide the window-sections of each side of the car into two equal series, the sections of each series being hinged together and being provided at their distant ends with a dummy section D so recessed as to permit the door I) to be closed flush with the surface of the window-sections when these are in their extended position, so as to assist in maintaining them rigidly in place.

In order that each series of window-sections may be properly guided into its particular storage-compartment when it is desired to change the car from the open to the closed condition, I provide a cam-groove e in the top and bottom or floor and ceiling of each of said compartments and provide the dummy section D with a pair of pins 6 especially designed to operate in said grooves. These latter have a straight portion and terminate in a curved end, so as to guide said dummy section inwardly when the window-sections are folded one upon the other and are pushed into their storage-compartment, the arrangement being such that the dummy section moves parallelto itself as it is brought from its extended position into a position at-the innermost end of the storage-compartment adjacent to the central doorway of the car. The window-sections fit into the compartment so as to lie in a series of planes parallel to the general line of the car. After the windowsections have been properly placed in their compartments the doors I) may be closed, being fastened in this position by means of the longitudinally-extending bars C and C.

It will be seen that when the window-sections are stored in their respective compartments the car is in its open or summer condition, there being provided, if desired, suit able steps or running-boards, (not shown,) so that said car may conveniently be entered through the opening between the side posts a. Under these conditions both the upper and the lower retaining-bars C and C are turned inwardly on their hinges into the position shown in Fig. 2, so'that neither of them interferes with the passengers boarding or leaving the car. It is also seen that, as above noted, they serve to keep shut the doors I) of the various storage-compartments. If desired, I may provide any desired form of catch or look, such as is shown at 0 for holding the bars 0 and C in this position. When, on the other hand, it is desired to change the car from the open to the closed condition, the bars Cand C are first turned outwardly on their hinges, as shown in the left-hand portion of Fig. 3. Then the doors I) of the com partments are open and the half-window sections D and D on the latter drawn out. After said sections have been turned on their respective hinges so as to lie in the same plane and have been extended along the sides of the car so as to rest in their respective guideways the compartment doors b are closed and the bars C and C are swung on their hinges inwardly, so as to tightly confine the window-sections and said doors in the abovedescribed positions, said bars being locked in place, if desired. It is to be noted that the change of the car from the open to the closed condition, or vice versa, may be made with great rapidity, if desired, in the event-of a storm.

While I preferably store the windowsec tions of each side of the car in two storagecompartments and divide them into two series of connected sections for this purpose, it is to be understood that, if desired, there may be but one compartmentprovided for each side of the car and all of the side sections may be stored therein-without departing from my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. A car having sides composed of a series of removable window-sections respectively hinged together, and means for retaining said sections in their extended positions to form a closed car, substantially as described.

2. A car having its sides formed of series of removable window-sections hinged together to permit of their being folded one upon the other, there being a storage-compartment at the end of the car for the folded window-sections, substantially as described.

3. A car having a series of half-window sections respectively connected together by hinges arranged on opposite faces of said sections, means for holding the window-sections in their extended positions to inclose the car, said sections being foldable one upon the other, and there being a storage compartment or compartments for the reception of the folded window-sections, substantially as described.

hinged together, bars extending longitudinally of the car for retaining said sections in their extended positions, and a door-closed compartment at the end of the car for the reception of the window-sections when these latter have been folded parallel with each other, substantially as described.

5. A car having at each end two storagecompartments, doors for said compartments, two series of window-sections for each side of the car, hinges for connecting said sections, and longitudinally-extending bars hinged to the top and bottom of the sides of the car, placed to retain the window-sections in their extended positions, and also capable of holding the doors of the compartments closed, substantially as described.

6. A car having a series of window-sections connected together by hinges alternately placed on opposite faces thereof, a storage compartment or compartments for said window-sections, and means for retaining one end of each series of sections in its compartment when they are in their extended posi- 'IIO r 05 4. A car having a series of window-sections tions, said means serving also to guide the sections into the compartment when it is desired to store them therein, substantially as described.

7. A car having a series of half-window sections hinged together along vertical lines, each half-section having in it a window-sash, and the two sashes of each pair of adjacent half-sections forming one complete windowopening, substantially as described.

8. A car having series of connected window-sections capable of removal to a storagecompartment, each section being made in two parts hinged together along a vertical line and each part having a window-sash, adj acent sashes being detachably connected together and having weatherproof material between their adjacent edges, substantially as described.

9. A car having two series of window-sections and a compartment at the ends of the car for each of said series, the end member of the series adjacent to the compartment having pins coacting with grooves in the carbody whereby said section is guided and held in position, doors to the storage-compartments, and longitudinally-extending bars respectively at the tops and bottoms of the sides of the car, placed to retain the windowsections in their extended positions, substantially as described.

10. A car having two series of Window-sections on each side, hinges connecting the sections of each series, and compartments at the ends of the car for the respective series, the member of each series nearest to the compartment having pins coaoting with grooves in the car-body whereby said section is guided and held in position, doors to the storagecompartments, and means placed to retain the window-sections in their extended positions, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD R. ASH.

Witnesses:

CHARLES GREEN, EDGAR H. STAFFORD. 

